NORMAL - Pathy Ekal left his war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo a year ago and has found a more peaceful setting in the Twin Cities.

But Ekal, a 29-year-old studying at Heartland Community College in Normal, plans to return home someday and use his U.S. education to help lead his nation to recovery.

In the meantime, he and his peers hope to raise awareness about his homeland and its troubles. A newly formed local nonprofit called One Heart for Congo will lead a week of activities, starting Monday. The group, created in July by Ekal and other Congolese immigrants, has student chapters at Heartland and Illinois State University.

"We notice many people here don't realize what's going on in Congo. … Many people are suffering," said Ekal, who moved here from the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.

"Congo is a poor country, and it's a little bit difficult to get the message out," he said.

Among immigrant groups in the area, the Congolese are a fast-growing group.

In Heartland's classes for people learning English as a second language, 39 Congolese students account for roughly 20 percent of the program's total enrollment. Five years ago, that program at Heartland enrolled only three Africans.

Most people from the former Belgian colony already speak French and one or two tribal languages when they arrive in the English language classes, said Kerry Urquizo, Heartland's English as a Second Language program director.

Another 20 Congolese are enrolled this fall with the Regional Office of Education's adult literacy program, which had only one Congolese student in 2001.

And in just eight years the Normal-based Unit 5 school district has gone from enrolling one Congolese-born child to more than 20.

Urquizo said One Heart for Congo hopes this week can serve as a bridge between the growing Congolese community and Twin City residents.

"We wanted to get the two groups together. Get to meet your neighbors," she said.

The local nonprofit's week of activities ties into an international focus on Congo called Break the Silence, she said.

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Congo Week

One Heart for Congo events, which are free and open to the public:

5 to 7 p.m. Sunday - "Sights & Sounds of Congo," Community Commons Building, Room 1406, Heartland Community College

7 p.m. Monday - "Invisible Children," Instructional Commons Building, Room 2805, Heartland. Program about child soldiers.

7 p.m. Tuesday - "Education in the Congo," Illinois State University, Schroeder Hall Room 115

Wednesday - Coltan Awareness Day; Campaign to turn cell phones off for one day. Congo produces most of the Coltan ore, which is vital to cell phone production.

7 p.m. Thursday - "Conflict in Congo," Instructional Commons Building, Room 2805, Heartland. Congolese immigrants share stories about war.

7 p.m. Friday - "The Greatest Silence," ISU, Schroeder Hall, program about rape epidemic in Congo.

For more information, contact Kerry Urquizo at 309-268-8433 or kerry.urquizo@heartland.edu

African Culture Week at IWU

From Nov. 1 to 8, Illinois Wesleyan University will host its annual African Culture Week, which will feature films, live music, a beading party, a drumming workshop, a martial arts demonstration and a dinner featuring African cuisine. All IWU events are free and open to the public.

To learn more, visit www.iwu.edu; or contact Gearhart at rgearhar@iwu.edu